RALEIGH — The N.C. Community Colleges System announced it has started its search for a new president to replace current President Jeff Cox, who this past August announced his intention to retire in 2026.
“Serving as president of the North Carolina Community Colleges System has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Cox said in the statement announcing his retirement. “As a first-generation college student from rural Alleghany County, I could never have imagined that one day I would lead the state’s community college system.”
Cox has served as president of the system since April 2023.
According to an N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) press release, the search process will be led by the State Board of Community Colleges and the newly formed advisory council made up of leaders in the business, government and higher education sectors.
“Our goal is simple but significant,” said Thomas F. Looney, chair of the State Board and co-chair of the search committee. “We will identify a transformative leader who can move our System at the speed of business and innovation — leveraging the collective strength of our 58 colleges and the communities they serve. This process will be transparent, collaborative, and focused on results.”
Looney also said the search would be conducted with “rigor and speed.”
John Kane, vice chair and co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee, said, “North Carolina’s economic success depends on the strength of our community colleges.”
“This search will engage business and government leaders statewide to ensure the next President continues modernizing the System, strengthening workforce alignment, and expanding opportunities for every business, industry, and student across our state,” Kane said.
Looney and Kane will be joined on the search committee by State Board members Chaz Beasley, Treasurer Brad Briner, Lisa Estep and Chris Lumsden.
For transparency in the search process, a seven-member search advisory council has been created that includes Amanda Lee, president of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents; Gene Rees, chairman of the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees executive board; Chris Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina; Ward Nye, Martin Marietta chairman and CEO,; state Sen. Michael Lee; state Rep. David Willis; and Seth Dearmin, North Carolina Governor’s Office chief of staff.
Cox’s successor will be confirmed by the General Assembly as required by the 2023 Appropriations Act enacted after Cox was named president.
The NCCCS includes 58 colleges statewide, has more than 30,000 employees and serves over 600,000 students. The system’s operating budget is just under $2 billion.
For more information on the NCCCS, visit nccommunitycolleges.edu.
